Jeffrey Feltman—former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, US Ambassador to Lebanon, and UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs—joins Brian for one of the most revealing conversations yet. They trace his journey from the streets of Beirut during the Cedar Revolution to a tense, hours-long meeting inside the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Along the way, they unpack the Trump administration's impulse-driven gambits, the Biden team's paralyzing over-process, and what's lost when the US pulls back from daily diplomacy. It's a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how power is wielded—and how trust is built or broken—in the Middle East.

Daniel Silverberg and Elisa Ewers—two veterans of Capitol Hill and the executive branch—join Brian for a candid conversation about the shifting politics of US Middle East policy inside the Democratic Party. Drawing on decades of experience shaping national security strategy, they unpack why so many debates remain trapped in a post-Iraq War mindset, how October 7th transformed bipartisan dynamics, and what's at stake when values, strategy, and political reality collide. From Iran and Gaza to the role of Arab partners and the rise of populism, the trio explores how America's approach to the region must evolve—and how the next generation can lead that charge with clarity, humility, and purpose.

Financial Times columnist and author Edward Luce joins Brian to discuss his new biography Zbig: The Life of Zbigniew Brzezinski—what the legendary strategist got right, where he fell short, and what his legacy means for US foreign policy today. From Camp David to Tehran, Luce reflects on the pivotal moments Brzezinski helped shape in the Middle East and beyond—and what lessons today's leaders could take from his intellectual rigor and hard strategic choices.

Stephanie Williams, former US diplomat and deputy head of the UN mission in Libya, sits down with Brian Katulis for a wide-ranging conversation about what's happening in the Middle East today. They talk through the latest on Israel and Iran and assess how a second Trump administration is already shaping US policy toward the region. Williams also shares how her decades of experience—and insights from her new book, Libya Since Qaddafi: Chaos and the Search for Peace—inform the way she sees today's unfolding dynamics.

This episode was originally recorded on June 9, 2025, featuring a wide-ranging conversation with Eyal Hulata—Israel's former National Security Advisor—about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, his role in shaping Israeli security policy, and where he believes the conflict is headed.

In light of recent developments between Israel and Iran, we reconnected with Eyal to capture his latest analysis. The first segment of this episode was re-recorded on June 16, 2025, to reflect Eyal's current views and predictions regarding the unfolding regional developments.

In this episode of Taking the Edge Off the Middle East, host Brian Katulis sits down with Fahad Nazer, spokesperson for the Saudi Arabian Embassy in the US, to discuss the evolving US-Saudi relationship amid unprecedented regional volatility. Central to their conversation is the deepening crisis in Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for sustained US-Saudi cooperation and broader international engagement to address the humanitarian catastrophe and prevent further regional escalation.

The conversation also explores how bilateral ties are expanding beyond traditional energy partnerships into cutting-edge sectors like technology and AI, following President Donald Trump's recent Middle East trip and the major business deals it secured. Nazer provides insights into the kingdom's strategic positioning while highlighting growing people-to-people connections that are deepening the US-Saudi relationship — particularly through the influx of Saudi students in the US and increasing American tourism and cultural exchange in Saudi Arabia.

In this episode of Taking the Edge off the Middle East, Brian Katulis sits down with Toni Verstandig, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and current board member at the Middle East Institute. Three months into the second Trump administration, they assess how the White House is reshaping US policy in the Middle East—what's changed, what's stayed the same, and what risks lie ahead. Verstandig reflects on lessons from her years working on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process during the Clinton era, offering both poignant stories and policy insights from a time when diplomacy looked very different. They also discuss how think tanks like MEI are stepping up at a moment when institutions like USIP and the Wilson Center are under fire.

Don't forget to look out for new episodes of Taking the Edge off the Middle East every other Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts.